We ended up at The Greenhouse Tavern as it was a food network rec. It was good but very pricey. The street is very cool 4th street. Good good but pricey. Should have asked sooner for recs as you all sent out some good ones.

Giant stamp

The Giant Pencil

It had to be done. #AChristmasStory

Watch out lions. Here come the Kepplers/Simons/Goldsteins

E had corporate training this week. The kids have been obsessed with some of the tests he came home with. One of them is the marshmallow test. They have been performing the test on neighborhood kids and cousins. I'm happy to report Ben G past with flying colors. I predict greatness.

J was having trouble sleeping last night. Gramma arrived from the airport and I was trying to rock him to sleep. She tried to quietly go to her room and J picked up his head and said "HI GAMMA!" Then she sang him to sleep. Buddies. :)

An post recital ice cream turned into a juke box inner workings lesson.

First guitar recital. Mary wore her red dress.

Let's go surfin' now everybody's learnin' how come on a safari with meeeeee.....

Held back the tears through last day of preschool, last day of first grade, everyone we've grown close with last day before they moved, but today broke me. Last day of summer fun. Last day I'll ever hang his little backpack on the hook. Last time it's just me and Benny making the drive to preschool.

Siblings

Day 5 of 5: my crazy, no fear, no self preservation skills baby who keeps me on my toes and exhausted.

Day four of summer vaca. Day 4 of not brushing her hair.

This one comes to Dairy Godmother and only wants a cookie.

This girl won a big award in her class this year. The ROARS award and they only give it to one kid per class per year. Although I have my misgivings about these awards Sof did work really hard this year as I know many other kids did as well. Her big reward is a banana split from the Dairy Godmother. Livin it up. Congrats Sof we are proud of you. xo

Day 4 of 5: The chaos of my daily life. I don't see the beauty in it but maybe if I shut the door and walk away....

Summer bounty

Bonus. This is the weekend version.

Day 3/5: every morning this guy used to come in bed every morning and say "can I snuggle with you?" Now he comes in every morning and gets in my bed and talks non stop about yesterday and the day before yesterday.

Daily photos 2/5: this is what breakfast in our house looks like. Kids in daddy's giant t shirts, bed hair and daddy breakfast.

Day 1/5: Several fantastically fun events have occurred this week and specifically today but April said I had to do everyday photos. So here is an everyday photo from today. I pick My mom today as my person to post every day pics next.

Finally!!! Thank you! So excited.

This guy was invited to Kings Dominion by a friend. He woke up at 6am this morning so excited shouting "this is going to be the best day of my life!" Thank you ladies!!

So....he ran 10 miles, then came home and was showered with gifts, then he laid on the couch and watched World Cup all day long, til 5:30 when he emerged from the basement to eat homemade Goodstuff Eatery burgers, fries, roasted marshmallow milkshakes and four kinds of mayo. But now. Now we are seeing sideshow at the Kennedy Center. Did I mention he hates musicals? #fathersdayisover

Happy Father's Day to the best all around dad! These are the luckiest kids I know!

Fish-Bug-Jumper now he's on his way to K. Love him.

Last. Day. Of preschool. Sniff. 😢

We voted! Did you? Polls open til 7. Go Derek!

This haircut....

Post tball snack. Cheering is as hard work as playing.

Lucky third kid. Mom let's him have donuts.

Some people call me a space cowboy

Go on take the money and run...